During the conference, high-level authorities from EU and China, showed a strong spirit of commitment to enhance coordination and cooperation in global fora, such as the FAO and international fisheries management bodies (RFMOs) with the goal to promote better governance, science, compliance and science-based fisheries management. China particularly expressed its wish to work with the EU to tackle climate change and illegal (IUU) fishing.

Daniel Voces, managing director of Europêche, declared: “Achieving sustainable fisheries requires a holistic approach that combines science, policy, enforcement and stakeholder engagement. All these elements are integrated in the current international conventions (UNCLOS, PSMA, C188, WTO fish subsidies, CTA, CBD, BBNJ, STCW-F), which are the common denominator of what should be considered by all countries in the world as the accepted level of sustainability. The international community needs to ratify and implement those rules at once. China, as the most prominent fishing nation in the world, must take responsibility and be instrumental in its region and in global arena to drive change. We need a global race to the top, not to the bottom”.

All participants agreed that international cooperation is fundamental to create momentum as well as to boost innovation, knowledge and capacity building in developing countries. 

Mr Voces concluded: “The European market demands nothing less than high standards and expects fleets from all countries to operate with the same level of sustainability as European fleets. This is crucial to ensure fair competition within the EU market. The EU cannot allow a situation where it opens its doors to products of questionable origin and practices, while burdening its own industry with rigorous sustainability requirements and controls”.

In this context, Mr Voces reminded that, as long as the situation does not change, it is imperative for the EU to continue using its internal market and fisheries policies to combat illegal fishing and labour abuse as well as to drive global change. This approach not only preserves the sustainability of European waters but also fosters equitable competition.

Press contact:

Rosalie Tukker, Senior Policy Officer of Europêche: +32 2230 48 48 rosalie.tukker@europeche.org

EP Press Release – EU China Blue Forum Shenzhen

According to the report, in 2018, total global capture fisheries production reached the highest level ever recorded at 96.4 million tonnes – an increase of 5.4% from the average of the previous three years. Catches of anchoveta by Peru and Chile accounted for most of the increase in catches. China’s catch rates have soared from almost 4 million tonnes in the 80’s to more than 15 million tonnes in 2018, representing 15% of global catches, being by far the major fish producer nowadays. The EU has had a stable fish production over the last two decades with an average of 5 million tonnes per year, representing 6% of the global catches.

In 2018, an estimated 39 million people were engaged in the primary sector of fisheries globally. Overall, the highest numbers of fishers are in Asia (85% of the world total), compared to a couple of hundred thousand fishermen in the European sector which has been suffering a significant employment reduction of 28% since 1995. Concerning the total number of fishing vessels, it was estimated to be 4.5 million, a 2.8% decrease from 2016. Asia continues to have the largest fleet with 3.1 million vessels, 68% of the global total, while the EU fishing fleet continues to shrink, numbering 83.000 vessels at present.

The majority of global fish stocks – 65.8% in 2017 – continue to be within biologically sustainable levels, almost 80% in the case of the North East Atlantic. In other words, and thanks to the good health of major species, almost 80% of the current global landings come from sustainable stocks.

Globally, 59.6% of the stocks are in fact maximally sustainably fished, an increase since 1989 due in part to what FAO highlights as improved implementation of management measures. However, the FAO warns that the fraction of fish stocks biologically unsustainable is increasing, particularly in fisheries with less-developed management mainly located in Southern Oceans. Daniel Voces, managing director of Europêche, commented: “We cannot agree more with the FAO that the perfect recipe for ocean conservation is more and better fisheries management. The uneven progress in different parts of the world calls for an urgent need to replicate and export successful EU policies to these areas. All governments need to step up efforts to ensure healthy and sustainable seafood systems that respect nature and biodiversity, such as in the EU”.

Global fish consumption rose from 9.0 kg per capita in 1961 to 20.3 kg in 2017, providing about 3.3 billion people with almost 20% of their average per capita intake of animal protein. This is mostly due to an increased availability across regions and countries, contributing to the food security and nutrition of the world population. In the EU, although a little bit higher than the global rate (24.35 kg per capita), EU citizens in 2017 ate half a kilo less compared to the previous year.

Daniel Voces, concluded: “We welcome the expansion of fish consumption worldwide. Our recommendation to EU citizens is to keep eating wild-caught fish since as highlighted by the FAO Director General, it is by far the healthiest and most environmentally friendly source of protein on earth. We more than ever need the support of EU and national authorities to promote the consumption of European seafood to help our fishermen overcome the Covid-19 crisis that has hit hard our sector”.

Press contacts:

Rosalie Tukker, Policy Advisor of Europêche: +32 2 230 48 48  rosalie.tukker@europeche.org

EP Press Release – FAO SOFIA Report